Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) are people who, individually or collectively, work peacefully on behalf of others to promote and defend internationally recognized human rights. They are defined by their actions rather than their profession, job title or organization.
They can be community leaders, journalists, lawyers, trade unionists, students or members of human rights organizations. They can defend women's rights, environdmental rights, indigenous rights, children's rights, minority rights, refugee rights or the rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex or Queer people (LGBTIQ+). In many countries they face considerable personal risk because they stand up for the rights of others against powerful interests.